Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-10
Instinctively Bell dropped the curtain

/
seen another young lady, whom he
| doubtless loved better than Bell. and
that was why he had not been willing
| to explain the reason when she had ask
ed him.
| How could she doubt it? Had she
not seen the visitor embrace her loverp
Surely her eyes could not have deceived
| her.
To make assurance doubly sure, how
ever, she would look again. She did
| so. and there sat the lady-visitor, still
with an arm round Richards neck, and
that brazen housekeeper looking on.
Bell was now peeping through the
curtain, SO that Richards, who, now
and then, looked uneasily towards her
window, could not see her.
No wonder he felt uneasy. How much
more SO would he feel did he know she
was watching him!
But poor Bell had now seen enough.
She drew back, and throwing herself
upon q lounge, sobbed as if her heart
would break. feeling that her peace in
this world was wrecked for ever.
Finally she wiped her eyes, removed
the traces of tears, and composed her
face. that her mother, who was absent.
| might not detect her agitation when
she should return.
Mamma" she said, when at length.
Mrs. Bronson having returned, she
wheeled her chair to her daughters
side, please give this note to Henry if
he calls this evening""
And she put note in her mothers
hand, exerting herself to MAINTAIN a
NH bi1 10
Then she went up to her room, re-
marking that she had headache, and
would 90 to lie down while
Mrs. Bronson sat looking ct the out
side of the note, wondering what were
its contents, as it was not usual for Bell
to deal this way with her lover.
From the window OF her apartment
Bell finally saw the lady-visitor depart
She was pale-faced young woman,
with blue eyes and chestnut hair.
Bell clenched her teeth and her eyes
flashed with Indignation.
She could perceive at once that the
object of her regards was not half as
pretty as herself, which at least was
some satisfaction, though it made her
ponder and harass herself the more,
wondering at Henry's choice.
Perfdious young man. He had al
ways said that the brunette style suited
him better than any other.
The color forsook Bells cheek, signs
convulsed her bosom; moaning she
walked the room, for hers was true
woman's nature, which could not easily
give up the man whom she had almost
wOrshipped.
Finally Henry came.
She heard the door-bell ring, heard
his step upon the stairs
She threw herself upon the lounge,
her heart beating wildly.
Meanwhile Henry. entering the apart
ment below, Mrs. Bronson gave him
the note.
"Bell is not WE'LL" said she; ''the
note probably is a request for you to ex-
cuse her this evening"
He opened the note, read it, and turn
ed as white as sheet.
These were its contents:
Mr.. Richards.-All is over between us. Ask
your own heart why. Mine is breaking. Fare
well for ever. Say nothing to mamma: it
would distress her. Bell"
Henry endeavored to compose him.
self; but Mrs. Bronson had already de-
tected the startling change in his coun-
tenance.
SIS anything the matter?" she in
CURED.
Bell can probably tell you; / cannot.
Will you please ask her if she won't see
me only for few minutes. Tell her |
do not understand her note.n
Mrs. Bronson did as requested but
Bell would not come down.
What is the usep" she said to herself.
did / not see it all with my own eyes?"
Then her mother, winding her arlns
round the neck of the afflicted one, kiss
ed her, and, smoothing her hair, said,
as she had been wont to do ever since
Bell was child:
Tell me, dearest, what it is?"
mo, no, mammal! sobbed the little
brunette; .'some other time-some other
timer
Then she drew back, her white teeth
clenched.
Mamma, | feel wicked! Oh, mamma,
/ could pull that light hair ever so
hardr'
At which terrible announcement she
again broke down, rending the air with
her sobs.
Whose hair? Not mine, dearest, l
hope?" exclaimed Mrs. Bronson, whose
hair was growing light with age.
''Oh, no, no. no; indeed, my own
dear mammar' cried Bell, covering the
grey hair with kisses. 1T is-it is-oh,
l will tell you some other time; but do
not breathe word of this to him!''
Mrs. Bronson returned. looking
grave, to the apartment where Henry
stood waiting.
..My child is ill., said She '.She de-
cidedly refuses to come down. Upon
my word, Mr.. Richards, l do not IN
derstand it"
The young man departed, saying he
would call again.
He did SO next day, when the servant
answering his summons at the door put
another note in his hand:
"Mr. Richards.-Pray, never come again.
All is over. will never see you again.
Richards now was indignant. He
turned away proudly, making up his
mind that Bell, who would not even
tender an explanation, was a heartless